IPL for Acne

Acne is a very common, chronic skin condition that has profound negative psychological and social effects. About 85% of people ages 12-25 develop acne, but for some it can remain a problem in adult life. Acne sufferers experience social withdrawal, embarrassment and poor self-image.

Acne involves inflammation of hair follicles and oil glands and can affect not only the face, but also the neck and back, and can cause teens to avoid sports that require changing clothes in public. There can be inflammatory lesions and noninflammatory lesions. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatments for moderate to severe inflammatory acne is effective to clear pimples and active inflammation, and improve the appearance of acne scars.

Individual results may vary.

The causes of acne

Sex hormones that are rampant in the teen years, are converted in the skin to dihyrotestosteorne (DHT) which stimulates oil glands, causing excess sebum or oily skin.

Those oil glands produce sebum, and also activate other proinflammatory factors.

Hair follicles are tiny canals that lead to skin pores. Normally these follicles carry sebum and dead skin cells to the surface, and get washed away. But in acne, the inflammation and debris blocks the hair follicles and pores, creating whiteheads and blackheads.

During puberty the amount of skin bacteria increases. These bacteria trigger inflammation within the hair follicles. The excess oil offers a perfect environment for the bacteria to grow.

Moderate to severe acne will usually not go away on its own, even with use of a topical product. This is when intense pulsed light treatments mayprovide some success. IPL acne treatments for ACTIVE acne may help kill the bacteria and may shrink the oil glands.

IPL for acne

The high intensity pulsed light may cause a reduction in the growth of bacteria and inflamed oil glands. It may also help to reduce pigment cells to remove the hyperpigmentation that results after the acne pimples resolve. Finally, it may reduce the capillaries that supply blood to the oil glands, to diminish the size and function of the glands. This can help to clear pimples and inflammation. In addition, IPL treatments can improve the appearance of acne scars, redness and dark spots.

Individual results may vary.

The Procedure

Before treatment, a layer of cold gel is applied to numb the skin and improve comfort during the procedure. You will wear an eye mask to protect your eyes. Then, an applicator is placed on the skin and delivers the intense pulsed light to the areas to be treated. As it works, the skin absorbs the light energy and heats up causing a snapping sensation as if a rubber band is being snapped against your skin. The entire procedure can take up to 30 minutes.

After treatment you may experience a reddening and swelling of the skin for a short time. Dark spots may appear darker, but will flake off. You may see a gradual improvement over the weeks following the treatment. IPL treatments may need to be repeated for several sessions to get the desired results.

When you or someone you love suffers from acne, it may be time to consider IPL treatments to improve the skin’s condition and acne breakouts. At Cary Med Spa and Wellness in Cary, North Carolina you will receive the best skin treatments for all your needs. Come see us and find out for yourself!